IC card, receiving apparatus, terminal list generating apparatus and terminal authentication method

Abstract

An IC card includes a data receiving unit which receives a terminal authentication list and a receiving apparatus ID from a memory unit of a receiving apparatus, a first determination unit which obtains a first determination result by determining, with reference to first discrimination information, whether the terminal authentication list is an invalid terminal list or a valid terminal list, a second determination unit which obtains a second determination result by determining whether the receiving apparatus ID is included in the terminal authentication list, and a reply unit which returns to the receiving apparatus a response signal indicative of whether the receiving apparatus is the valid terminal or not, in accordance with contents of the first determination result and the second determination result.

1 . An IC card comprising: 
 a data receiving unit which receives a terminal authentication list and a receiving apparatus ID from a memory unit of a receiving apparatus;    a first determination unit which obtains a first determination result by determining, with reference to first discrimination information contained in the terminal authentication list, whether the terminal authentication list is an invalid terminal list or a valid terminal list; a second determination unit which obtains a second determination result by determining whether the receiving apparatus ID is included in the terminal authentication list; and    a reply unit which returns to the receiving apparatus a response signal indicative of whether the receiving apparatus is the valid terminal or not, in accordance with contents of the first determination result and the second determination result.    
     
     
         2 . The IC card according to  claim 1 , wherein the reply unit returns a response indicating that the receiving apparatus is the invalid terminal, when the first determination result indicates the “invalid terminal list” and the second determination result indicates that the receiving apparatus ID is included in the terminal authentication list, the reply unit returns a response indicating that the receiving apparatus is the valid terminal, when the first determination result indicates the “valid terminal list” and the second determination result indicates that the receiving apparatus ID is included in the terminal authentication list, the reply unit returns a response indicating that the receiving apparatus is the valid terminal, when the first determination result indicates the “invalid terminal list” and the second determination result indicates that the receiving apparatus ID is not included in the terminal authentication list, and the reply unit returns a response indicating that the receiving apparatus is the invalid terminal, when the first determination result indicates the “valid terminal list” and the second determination result indicates that the receiving apparatus ID is not included in the terminal authentication list.  
     
     
         3 . The IC card according to  claim 1 , wherein valid or invalid terminal IDs are enumerated in the terminal authentication list, and the second determination unit determines, in a round-robin fashion, whether the receiving apparatus ID is included in the terminal authentication list.  
     
     
         4 . The IC card according to  claim 1 , wherein valid or invalid terminal IDs are specified in the terminal authentication list by a designated range, and the second determination unit determines, by a comparison process, whether the receiving apparatus ID is included in the designated range.  
     
     
         5 . A broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: 
 a receiving unit which receives broadcast waves;    a signal processing unit which descrambles and decodes a reception output from the receiving unit, thereby producing decoded video and audio;    a communication processing unit which is connected to an external network;    a group discrimination information determination unit which determines group discrimination information of a terminal authentication list, which is acquired from the receiving unit that receives the broadcast waves or from a server via the communication processing unit;    a list receiving unit which stores the terminal authentication list in a memory unit when the group discrimination information indicates a group which specifies the own broadcast receiving apparatus;    an interface for connection to an IC card in which viewing/listening contract information is set;    an authentication start unit which outputs the terminal authentication list and a receiving apparatus ID to the interface, thereby to start authentication, at least when the interface is activated; and    an authentication result display processing unit which outputs, when a response indicative of failure of authentication is sent from the IC card as a result of a check between the terminal authentication list and the receiving apparatus ID, a result of the response to a display process unit.    
     
     
         6 . The broadcast receiving apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the authentication start unit starts authentication when power is turned on, when the IC card is inserted in the interface, when an instruction is issued from the server via the communication processing unit, or when periodical driving is executed by a clock function.  
     
     
         7 . A terminal authentication list generating apparatus comprising: 
 a group classification unit which classifies terminals into groups;    a group discrimination information addition unit which adds group discrimination information to a terminal list of the terminals which are classified into a predetermined group;    a first terminal ID collection unit and a second terminal ID collection unit which collect terminal IDs of the terminals of the predetermined group and generate, as the terminal list, a terminal list of valid terminals and a terminal list of invalid terminals, respectively;    a first discrimination information addition unit and a second discrimination information addition unit which add discrimination information of “valid” and discrimination information of “invalid” to the terminal list of valid terminals and the terminal list of invalid terminals, which are generated by the first and second terminal ID collection units, respectively; and    a switch unit which selects one of the terminal list of valid terminals with the discrimination information of “valid” and the terminal list of invalid terminals with the discrimination information of “invalid”, which has a smaller data amount, as a terminal list to be transmitted.    
     
     
         8 . The terminal authentication list generating apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising an addition unit which adds, to the terminal list of the valid terminals and the terminal list of the invalid terminals, discrimination information which discriminates whether terminal IDs are specified by enumeration or by a designated range.  
     
     
         9 . The terminal authentication list generating apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising an update information addition unit which adds, to the terminal list of the valid terminals and the terminal list of the invalid terminals, update information for discrimination of latest content.